Chapter 409: Gathering Atop the Tenth Summit, It’s Time

Silence lingered atop the Tenth Summit, with only the sound of rain striking the cliffs remaining, the entire mountain seeming to mourn the departure of the Sword Venerable.

For a long while, no one spoke, and even Jiang Ruyin instinctively remained quiet.

Although she still did not know exactly who the Sword Venerable was, just witnessing everyone’s reactions allowed her to understand one thing; someone unimaginably important had fallen.

Eventually, Wang Daoyun slowly raised his head, his expression having already returned to its usual calmness, after all, grief alone could not change reality.

The dead had already departed, but the living still had to continue walking forward.

"Grandmaster."

Wang Daoyun’s voice was respectful as he spoke, "The recent changes occurring throughout heaven and earth..."

He paused briefly before continuing, his gaze gradually growing deep.

"The severed connection between realms, the abnormal Lower Realm Spirit, and the Providence vortex... what exactly is happening?"

The moment those words fell, everyone’s attention landed upon Tian Yun.

The Blade Saint also looked over, paying attention. This was precisely why he had come.

However, Tian Yun did not immediately answer, but instead, he quietly looked beyond the endless mountain ranges of Kunlun.

Wang Daoyun immediately realized that his grandmaster was contemplating whether to tell them or not, remaining silent in a respectful posture.

However, just then, Tian Yun’s expression became somewhat solemn as he gazed into the distance, his eyes suddenly narrowing almost imperceptibly.

At almost the exact same moment, the Blade Saint also turned his head, their gazes simultaneously locking onto the distant horizon.

Seeing this scene, Wang Daoyun’s heart stirred.

Did another supreme powerhouse arrive?

The others quickly followed their gazes, not even daring to breath loudly.

Far away, within the endless curtain of rain, a black figure faintly emerged.

The newcomer’s speed appeared neither hurried nor slow, however, every step he took seemed to naturally cross vast distances.

His aura remained restrained, yet everyone present immediately recognized him.

"Demon Lord Nine Calamities..."

The Heavenly Feather Crimson Monarch subconsciously frowned.

The Blade Saint raised an eyebrow slightly.

Before long, the black robed figure stepped onto the cliff.

His gaze first landed on Tian Yun before sweeping across Wang Daoyun, Jiang Chengxuan, Jiang Ruyin, and the Heavenly Feather Crimson Monarch, finally stopping at the Blade Saint.

A hint of surprise flashed through his eyes.

"You?"

The Blade Saint remained indifferent.

"Nine Calamities, you came as well."

For a brief moment, neither of them spoke again.

Indeed, with such changes taking place in the world, it wasn’t exactly unusual for either other party to come here.

At that moment, the Blade Saint calmly asked, "I assume you aren’t here merely to pay respect."

Demon Lord Nine Calamities slowly nodded.

"There is indeed another matter."

His expression gradually became solemn as he spoke.

"I came specifically to find the Kunlun Saint Master."

Tian Yun calmly looked at him, "What happened?"

Demon Lord Nine Calamities took in a deep, slow breath, causing the atmosphere to immediately became incomparably heavy.

His next words were like a bolt of heavenly lightning resounding across the nine heavens.

"The Upper Realm... is preparing to begin another Cleansing."

The moment those words echoed across the cliff, heaven and earth seemed to pause briefly.

Wang Daoyun’s pupils contracted violently as Jiang Chengxuan’s breathing unconsciously slowed while the Heavenly Feather Crimson Monarch’s beautiful face instantly lost all color. Even Jiang Ruyin froze completely, her eyes widening in horror.

Only Tian Yun and the Blade Saint barely managed to maintain their composure, yet, the subtle changes within their eyes still betrayed the enormous shock in their hearts.

"Cleansing..."

Tian Yun slowly repeated, his usually calm expression becoming extremely grim.

The Blade Saint’s pupils similarly constricted.

Suddenly, everything made sense.

No wonder...

No wonder the demonic path had acted so strangely during the Righteous-Demonic War, no wonder those Upper Realm Half Immortals appeared personally, no wonder the Lower Realm Spirit suddenly awakened and became restless.

Everything finally connected together in his mind.

The Blade Saint slowly closed his eyes, a bitter smile appearing on his face.

"So... that’s what they were after."

Everyone looked at him.

The Blade Saint slowly spoke, his indifferent voice carrying rare complexity.

"I originally believed something was wrong. The demonic path and Demon Race had cooperated with Upper Realm Immortals countless times throughout history, but, this time, for some reason, it was different; they were rushing."

His eyes gradually became colder as he continued.

"The Upper Realm continuously urged every major demonic force to accelerate the resurrection of the Demon God, and their attitude became increasingly impatient. I questioned them several times, but never got a proper answer."

He paused briefly, letting out a faint sigh.

"I couldn’t understand why, so I discreetly investigated, discovering far too many inconsistencies and suspicious points. That was also why I ultimately turned my sword against them."

At his words, even Demon Lord Nine Calamities seemed somewhat surprised.

Although he already knew the Blade Saint defected and suspected it was because he discovered something, he had never known the specific reason.

The Blade Saint slowly looked at Tian Yun, his expression extremely serious.

"I simply never imagined that they intended to begin the Cleansing seventy million years ahead of schedule."

Those words caused everyone’s expressions to become increasingly grave.

Seventy million years, that was not merely several years or several centuries, that was nearly an entire Era.

Advancing something of such scale, the price the Upper Realm had to pay must have been unimaginable.

If they were even willing to do that, just what exactly had frightened those Immortals and Gods?

Jiang Chengxuan slowly spoke, his voice uncharacteristically trembling slightly.

"If that’s truly the case, then the Lower Realm..."

His voice unconsciously became somewhat hoarse as he finished his sentence.

"...is finished."

No one refuted him; they all understood the meaning behind his words.

What exactly did the Cleansing represent?

Complete, utter annihilation, of not just one continent or Great Mortal World, but the entire Lower Realm.

Countless civilizations, worlds, dynasties, sects, families, Holy Lands, ancient inheritances, races, everything would be erased.

Even if several inheritances somehow survived, the overwhelming majority of living beings certainly would not.

The Heavenly Feather Crimson Monarch subconsciously clenched her fists.

"How... are we supposed to resist something like that?"

No one answered, or rather, no one had any answer.

Tian Yun slowly closed his eyes before opening them.

The Sword Venerable had already demonstrated Kunlun’s stance; he chose resistance, yet even he despaired near the end.

If someone like the Sword Venerable ultimately reached despair, how much hope did the current Lower Realm truly possess?

Just then, Demon Lord Nine Calamities slowly spoke again.

"I’ve already investigated everything."

His words immediately attracted everyone’s attention.

He did not hide anything, from the transformation of the Demon Saint, the resurrection of the Archaic Forbidden Demon God, the descent of the Upper Realm Half Immortals, the secret arrangements of the Immortals and Gods, the mysterious senior appearing within his dream, and finally, to the true purpose behind everything.

He recounted everything from beginning to end, omitting no detail.

The more everyone listened, the heavier the atmosphere became.

By the end, even Tian Yun did not know what to say.

The cliff became deathly quiet, and after a long while, Demon Lord Nine Calamities slowly said.

"On my way here, I met the Eternal Lord."

Hearing those words, several people’s expressions changed subtly.

Especially Wang Daoyun, Tian Yun, and Jiang Ruyin, while the rest looked over as well.

Demon Lord Nine Calamities continued, "He already knew about most of this, having visited Kunlun not long ago. There was another person accompanying him, a Tribulation Transcendence cultivator."

The Blade Saint frowned slightly.

"A junior?"

Demon Lord Nine Calamities slowly shook his head.

"I don’t think so. There was something very strange about him. He gave me an indescribable feeling."

His expression became thoughtful as he continued.

"With the way he was being treated by the Eternal Lord as a peer, I suspect that he may be some ancient supreme powerhouse undergoing reincarnation and re-cultivation."

Those words immediately caused Tian Yun’s eyes to narrow slightly.

The Blade Saint also became thoughtful.

Only Jiang Ruyin blinked blankly.

Another reincarnation?

How many reincarnated monsters are there in this era?

Demon Lord Nine Calamities continued,

"That person suggested that since the truth has basically been confirmed, there is no longer any point hiding it. He proposed releasing the news throughout the entire Lower Realm, from the Nine Great Mortal Worlds to the Outer Void, so everyone can prepare before the catastrophe arrives. The Eternal Lord also agreed to his proposal."

Strangely enough, the moment everyone heard that title, the Eternal Lord, the suffocating pressure weighing upon everyone’s hearts seemed to lessen ever so slightly, not much, only by a tiny amount, but it did so.

It wasn’t because they believed Tian Yongheng could already contend against the Cleansing, no one believed something so unrealistic.

Rather, it was because that man had created too many miracles.

From an unknown cultivator to becoming an Immortal God in less than a thousand years, defeating the Archaic Forbidden Demon God as a mortal, slaughtering Vagrant Immortals while still a Half Immortal...

Again and again, he had accomplished what everyone believed to be impossible.

Even now, when the future appeared almost hopeless, simply knowing that the Eternal Lord had already begun preparing somehow made the future seem ever so slightly less dark.

Tian Yun lifted his head to look towards the endless rain beyond the cliff.

His calm voice slowly echoed throughout the surroundings.

"Then... it’s time."

His eyes gradually sharpened as he said each word in a deep voice.

"The entire Lower Realm deserves to know."